Posts Tagged ‘vw’

Cheap Thing, You Make Everything Groovy – 1974 VW Thing

July 11, 2014

Given the relative lack of Mini Mokes and Citroen Meharis in the North American market, you’d think the VW Type 181 Thing would have a lock on the audience who thinks doors, windows, a roof, carpet, and more are the conceit of capitalist pigs, and who aren’t crazy about the handling compromises you get with a Jeep, Bronco, or Scout. And you’d be right, which is why pricing in the low five figures is normal for these cars. At least one reactionary sees clearly, though, that this car should be priced so any comrade can afford it, so if you’re one of those, check out this 1974 VW Thing for sale for $4200 in San Jose, CA.

1974 VW Thing right front

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Not Tail-less – 1965 Jeffries Mantaray II Kyote

July 1, 2014

While many car enthusiasts are familiar with the concept of VW-based dune buggies of the 1960s and 1970s, and many might even know the Meyers Manx for its bug-eyed headlamps and krazy kandy colors, what is not immediately clear is the extent to which this industry boomed. However, one visit to the Dune Buggy Archives will clear that right up, and the difficulty of identifying these machines is highlighted by the fact that they have a searchable database in which they’ve assigned design attributes to the various cars, which you can use to identify yours. And that’s how to determine that the car identified as a 1965 VW dune buggy is actually likely to be a Jeffries Mantaray II Kyote, for sale for $3799 in Sacramento, CA.

1965 VW dune buggy right front

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Westmoreland or Bust! – 1980 VW Rabbit Diesel

June 25, 2014

While the Volkswagen cars built at the Westmoreland, PA are an interesting sidebar in VW’s production history (together with the South African CitiGolf and the Mexican Caribe), but their compromised interior design and quality, together with softened suspension, mean they’re not viewed all that fondly by enthusiasts. That said, survivors are few and far between at this point, and it’s interesting to look back and see what a former Chevrolet executive thought was the right strategy for selling more Rabbits in North America. Check out this 1980 VW Rabbit Diesel for sale for $2500 in Palo Alto, CA.

1980 VW Rabbit right front

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